Ilknur Ozgur
Ilknur Ozgur (she/her) is the Founder & Director of Artstillery, a nonprofit immersive performance art company based in Dallas, Texas. Artstillery aligns with community partners and produces artistic experiences based on true narratives. Originally from Chicago, Ilknur started her writing journey in partnership with individual artists wanting to create solo original works. “Jaspora: Imitation Haitian” was created alongside powerful writer/performer Nancy Moricette and toured the New York International Fringe Festival. She also workshopped original pieces from writer Suzan-Lori Parks within Chicago Puerto Rican communities with Urban Theatre Co. One of her favorite experiences was working alongside Miguel Pinero (Nuyorican Poets Cafe in NY) to produce his works as immersive experiences inside small street facing urban spaces. Rhythms from Hip Hop, Rap, Street Poets and Community Narratives have always been the grounding force behind Ilknur’s work. When serving as an instructor of Performance Art and Communications at the University level, she thoroughly enjoyed sharing experiences with her students and devising interpretive pieces for performance competitions across the United States.
Ilknur proudly served as an Arts & Culture Commissioner representing Dallas District 6. She currently resides on the TACDC Creative Place Making Task Force under the NEA, she is an artistic liaison to Dallas City Homes advising on the creation of shared spaces and runs the creative place making initiatives at 723, a warehouse located in West Dallas. Her most recent speaking engagement was on the TACA Perforum Stage: REimagine: The Future Of The Arts, November 2021.
Ilknur believes in shattering hierarchical structures created in traditional spaces. She believes in and works to develop self-sustaining artist ecosystems encompassing people from all backgrounds, skill sets and passions.
Learn more HERE.
Twitter/Instagram: Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram: @Artstillery